If you’ve ever walked through a pasture that’s been left unchecked for a season or two, you’re going to run into plenty of tall weeds, unruly brush, and grasses that seem to have taken over. While it might look “wild and free,” there’s a hidden cost for those with livestock. Overgrown vegetation doesn’t just change the aesthetic of your land; it directly affects how efficiently your animals graze. Let’s break that down.

Reduced forage accessibility

Imagine being at a buffet where all the good food is buried under a mountain of unappetizing options. That’s what it’s like for cattle and sheep in an overgrown pasture. When vegetation grows tall and thick, it physically blocks animals from reaching the nutritious grasses and legumes they prefer. Mature weeds and invasive brush form dense barriers, making it hard for livestock to get to the plants they need most.

Rather than graze evenly across the field, your animals will pick at what’s easy to reach. That means wasted energy and less efficient intake. It’s like trying to pick the best berries when you’re standing at the edge of a jungle.

Lower nutritional quality

Not all forage is created equal—and timing matters. Young, tender grasses are packed with nutrients and highly digestible. But as vegetation overgrows and plants mature, they become fibrous, coarse, and low in the nutrients livestock crave.

Think of it as comparing fresh greens to a handful of dried, straw-like stems. Sure, it’s forage, but it won’t fuel optimal growth or milk production. When cattle have no choice but to consume older, over-mature plants, they spend more time chewing and still get less nourishment. That’s inefficient grazing by any measure.

Increased parasite and predator risks

While a bit more indirect, unmanaged vegetation can impact grazing efficiency by forcing livestock to avoid these areas. That’s because taller grasses can serve as a hiding spot for parasites like ticks. It also creates shady, protected zones where predators can lurk, especially in the early morning or dusk. For animals that are trying to graze efficiently, this added stress means frequent interruptions and less time spent on quality feeding.

Compacted grazing patterns

Regardless of the reason, when livestock actively avoids certain areas of your land, it’ll cause them to congregate in the more accessible spots, leading to overgrazing in some areas and underutilization in others. This creates a patchy landscape of worn-down dirt and unbrowsed thick vegetation.

That’s why you need to do something about it. Take the time to tame the overgrown areas of your land. Learn how processes like brush hogging can improve your livestock pastures. All of this will lead to much healthier fields and animals.